Automatic flushing device



March 15, 1966 1. w. PARRI 3,239,847

AUTOMATI C FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1BUG/(HORN, BLOHE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS March 15, 1966 l. w.FARR! 3,239,847

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

lDWdL W. PAR/W I/VI/E/VTOR BY BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MANATTORNEYS Filed Dec. 13, 1962 March 15, 1966 1, w, FARR: 3,239,847

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY BUG/(HORN, BLORE,KLAAOU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS March 15, 1966 l. W. PARRI 3,239,847

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1gb I60 I14-0 150 FIG. 8 158 IDWAL W PAR/W IN 5 /V 7' OR.

B) BUG/(HORN, 510/25, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,239,847 AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Idwal W. Parri, 4611 SE.Boise St, Portland, Greg. Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,524 8Claims. (Ci. 4-419) This invention relates to automatic flushingdevices, and more particularly to toilet flushing devices which areactuated by increase in electroconductivities of waters in toilet bowlswhen human wastes are added to the waters.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved automaticfiushing devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flushing device operableby increase in electroconductivity of water in toilet bowls.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sensingincreases in electrocond-uctivity of water in a toilet bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sensingincreases in electroconductivity of water in a toilet bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide easily installed automaticflushing devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic flushingdevices for converting existing manual flushing devices to automaticoperation.

In an automatic flushing device illustrating certain features of theinvention, there may be provided a pair of electrodes having the endsthereof immersed in the trap water in a toilet bowl together with acontrol circuit applying a voltage across the electrodes and responsiveto increased current flow between the electrodes caused by increase inelectroconductivity of the trap water from the addition of human waste.The control circuit actuates a [flushing device to supply flush-ingwater to the toilet bowl. The flushing mechanism may include a flushtank which is normally substantially empty of water, and a valveoperable when actuated by the control circuit to supply water to theflush tank. When the water in the flush tank reaches a desired volume afloat-actuated trip opens the outlet of the flush tank to discharge thewater therefrom into the toilet bowl. In another form of the inventionthere is no flush tank and water is supplied from a valve operated bythe control circuit, this form of the invention being particularlyuseful for urinals.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of automatic flushing devices formingspecific embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional, perspective view of a toilet includingan automatic flushing device forming one embodiment of the invention,with a control circuit and sensing means thereof shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an electrode unit of the automatic flushingdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a flushtank of the toilet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially sectional, side elevation of amodification of the toilet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional, side elevation view of a urinalincluding an automatic flushing device forming an alternate embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, horizontal, substantially top plan view of astrainer plate and electrode device of the urinal of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a flushtank and a valve thereof of an automatic ice flushing device forming analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a flushtank and a valve thereof of an automatic flushing device forming anotherembodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5a toilet including an automatic flushing device. The toilet includes abowl 10, a seat 11 and a flush tank 12. The bowl 10, as is customary intoilets filled with trap water 14, has a predetermined, lowelectroconductivity such as that normally present in tap water ofmunicipal water supplies. Immersed in the trap water is one end of anelectrode sensing device or unit 16 having spaced electrodes 18 and 20.The electrodes 18 and 20 preferably are composed of corrosion-resistantmaterial such as, for example, stainless steel, and the electrode 18 isgenerally T-shaped and is centrally located within and spaced from theelectrode 20. The electrode 20 is cylindrical, and has a threaded endportion 22 on which may be threaded a nut 24 to secure the unit 16 in abore 26 (FIG. 5) in the toilet bowl 10 with a gasket 27 serving to sealthe bore 26 against leakage of water. The bore preferably is providedwith a counterbore portion for receiving an enlarged, cup-like, headportion 28 of the electrode 20.

A sealing gasket 30 of electrical insulation and a combined sealinggasket and a baffle member 32 of electrical insulation are positioned inthe recess in the cup-like head portion 28 of the electrode 20. Themember 32 has a raised, continuous annular ring or baffle 34 forlengthening the electrical path between the end of the electrode 26 andthe end of the electrode 18 and a sealing and electrically insulatingplug 36 is positioned between the .rod-like shank portion of theelectrode 18 and the outer cylindrical electrode 20. Thus, theelectrodes 18 and 20 are electrically insulated from each other exceptat the exposed end faces of the electrodes. At the outer end of theelectrode 18 there is provided a connector portion 38 to which aconductor 40 is electrically and mechanically connected. Similarly, theelectrode 20 is connected electrically to the nut 24 which has aconnector portion 42 having a grounded conductor 44 connected thereto.In FIG. 5, the sensing unit 16 is shown in a different position in thebowl 10.

The conductors 4d and 44 are connected to a known sensing and controlcircuit 46 which applies a predetermined potential across the electrodes18 and 28 and senses an increase in current from one of the electrodesto the other when the electro-conductivity of the water 14- is increasedby the addition of human waste such as urine to the water. The circuit46 is supplied with power from a powerline 48 and, when the currentbetween the electrodes 18 and 20 is increased, amplifies the current toenergize a relay to energize the winding of a solenoid 54 of a knownsolenoid operated valve 56. This opens the valve 56 and water issupplied from a supply pipe 58. The supply pipe supplies tap water tothe flush tank 12 through a pipe 60 (FIG. 4) and an inlet 62 in acombined post and pipe 64. The solenoid winding 54 is maintainedenergized to hold the valve 56 opened until a ball float member 66 israised to a predetermined height.

The ball float member 66 is attached rigidly to a pivoted arm 68 mountedpivotally on a pin 76 carried by the combined post and pipe 64, and whenthe ball 66 is raised to the predetermined height, it tensions a spring'72 connected to an L-shaped arm 74 fixed rigidly to a plate 76 mountedpivotally on a bracket 78 by a pin 86. As the ball 66 approaches thispredetermined height, at which time there is sufiicient water in thetank 12 for flushing purposes, the spring 72 is tensioned and a latchingpin 82 is raised by the arm 68 out of a notch 84 in a latch plate 76.The pin 82 is secured adjustably to the arm 68 by an adjustment screw 86and a collar member 88. When the latch pin 82 is drawn out of the pathof the latch plate 76, the spring 72, through a pull rod 90 fixed to avalve member 92, pulls the valve member 92 away from valve seat 94 of apipe 96 leading from the bottom of the flush tank 12 to the toilet bowl10. The water in the flush tank then flows rapidly through the pipe 96into the toilet bowl and flushes the water out of the bowl 10. The arm74 has a hole 89 therein through which the rod 90 slidably extends, anda nut 91 and washer 93 limit downward movement of the rod relative tothe arm 74.

After all the water except a small portion in the bottom of the flushtank 12 has been emptied from the flush tank, the valve member 92, whichis of the float type, moves down to reseat on the valve seat 94 andclose off the pipe 96. At this time the water level in the tank 12 issomewhat above a bleeder hole 98 in an overflow pipe 100, and theportion of the water above the top of the valve seat.94 flows throughthe bleeder hole 98 slowly to refill the toilet bowl 10 to the desiredlevel through a pipe 102 connecting the overflow pipe 100 to the pipe 96at a level below the top of the valve seat 94. The flushing of thetoilet bowl reduces the conductivity between the electrodes 18 and 20and the current flow therebetween drops greatly. This actuates thecircuit 46 to cut off power from the solenoid winding 54, and the valve56 recloses to close off the pipe 58 from the flush tank 12, and thetoilet remains in a static condition until the next time theconductivity of the trap water 14 is increased and sensed by the sensingdevice 16.

In the automatic flushing device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a urinal 110having a bowl portion 112 provided with trap water 114 has a strainerplate 116 therein mounting an electrode sensing device or unit 118substantially identical with the unit 16. The unit 118 is fixed in aposition projecting through one of holes 120 in the strainer plate 116in a position in which its electrodes 122 and 124 are immersed below thetop of the trap water 114. The electrodes 112 and 124 are connected .toa sensing and control circuit (not shown) similar to relay 46 and whenthe conductivity of the water 114 is increased by the addition of urinethereto, this increase in electroconductivity is sensed by the device118 and the control circuit to actuate a solenoid (not shown) to open aknown flushing valve (not shown). The flushing valve may be one of thecommonly used flushing valves for urinals, or may be a valve similar tothe valve 56. The flushing continues until the trap water 114 with theurine therein has been drained so that the conductivity at the sensingdevice 118 lowers, which turns the valve off and no further water issupplied to the bowl portion 112 of the urinal.

A flush tank valve 130 (FIG. 8) forming a portion of an automaticflushing device forming an alternate embodiment of the inventionincludes an inverted, cupshaped adapter cylinder 132 secured to a drainpipe 134 leading to the toilet bowl from flush tank 136. Set screws 138fix the adapter cylinder to the pipe 134 in a position in which a gasket140 is pressed tightly against the upper end of the pipe 134 by apartition plate 142 fixed to the cylinder 132 in a position intermediatethe ends of the cylinder. The plate 142 has a hole 144 therein alignedwith the hole 146 in the gasket 140. The cylinder 132 has an inletopening 148 in top cover 150 and a gasket 152 is suitably adhered to thelower face of the plate 150 surrounding the opening 148. A valve closureplate 154 is mounted pivotally by arm 160 on a bracket 156 fixed to thecylinder 132. The arm 160 is urged in a clockwise direction by a tensionspring 158 connected at its upper end to the arm 160 and at its lowerend to a bracket 162 fixed to the cylinder 132. The arm is rigidlyconnected to the plate 154. A Z-shaped latching lever 164 isgravity-urged to a position latching the valve closure plate 154 in aclosed position, the lever 164 being pivotally mounted by a bracket 166fixed to the top cover 150 of the cylinder 132 and having an arm 168connected by a rod 170 to a ball float member 172. The lever extendsthrough a slot 165 in the upper end of the cylinder 132 to permitpivotal movement of the lever 164.

In the operation of the device shown in FIG. 8, water is supplied to theflush tank 136 when the conductivity of the toilet bowl water isincreased so that the bowl needs flushing. As in the embodimentsdescribed previously, the sensing device corresponding to the sensingdevice 16 opens a valve in the water supply line to the flush tank 136and the water enters and raises the float member 172. As the water inthe flush tank reaches the level desired for flushing, the member 172swings the lever 164 in a clockwise direction to release the closureplate 154 and the weight of the water above the closure plate 154 pivotsthe plate 154 against the action of the spring 158, and water flowsthrough the opening 148 and around the closure plate 154 and through thedrain pipe 134 into the toilet bowl to flush the toilet bowl. As thewater level lowers in the flush tank 136 to a level just above the top150 of the cylinder 132 the spring 158 swings the plate 154 back to itsclosed position, the lever 164 being provided with a cam surface 174past which the plate 154 moves. The remaining water in the flush tankbleeds through a bleeding hole 176 to refill the trap water in thetoilet bowl.

A flush tank closure device shown in FIG. 9 forms a part of an automaticflushing device similar to those described above except as describedbelow. The closure device shown in FIG. 9 incudes an adapter plate 180fixed by a setscrew 182 to a drain pipe 184 leading from a flush tank186 to a toilet bowl (not shown), a camming surface 188 of a bracket 187fixed to the plate 180 serving to cam the plate 180 into sealingengagement with a gasket 189 positioned between the plate 180 and thetop of the pipe 184, the plate 180 having adhered thereto a valve seatgasket portion 190 adapted to be closed by a valve closure plate 192mounted pivotally on the plate 180 by a bracket 194 fixed to the plate180. The closure plate 192 carries a spring-pressed latch 195 urged tothe left by a spring-pressed latch 195 urged to the left by a spring 196seated at one end against a fixed upright portion 198 of a bracket 200and at the other end against an enlarged head portion of the latch 195.The bracket 200 is mounted rigidly on the plate 192. One end of thelatch 195 is fixed rigidly on a rod 202, which is connected pivotally toa lever 204 mounted pivotally by a pin 206 to the bracket 200. A ballfloat member 210 is connected by a tension spring 212 to the other endof the lever 204. A bracket 214 fixed to the plate 180 carries a one-waylatching lever 216 pivotally thereon by means of a pin 218. The lever216 normally is biased by gravity against fixed stop 220.

In the operation of the device shown in FIG. 9, when the toilet needsflushing a sensing device similar to that described above of theautomatic flushing device of FIG. 1 causes water to be supplied to thetank 186 and to raise the ball float member 210 to tension the spring212. When the water level reaches the desired level necessary forflushing the toilet, the tension on the spring 212 is just enough topivot the lever 204 counterclockwise to move the latch 195 out fromunder the latching plate 216, and the tension on the spring 212 thenraises the valve closure plate 192 to its open position, and the waterin the flush tank flows out through the drain pipe 184 into the toiletbowl and flushes the toilet bowl, and after the water has flowed out ofthe tank the closure plate 192 drops back to its closed position, withthe latch 195 swinging the latching lever 216 out of its path, afterwhich the, latching lever 216 swings back to its latching position.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. In a toilet flushing device including a bowl member for receivingurine and having a supply of water therein of a predeterminedelectroconductivity,

a pair of spaced electrodes mounted in the water of the bowl member withthe electrodes spaced apart, means placing a predetermined potential onthe electrodes,

current sensing means responsive to current flow through the electrodeswhen the water receives urine of substantially higherelectrooonductivity than the water,

a flush tank having a flush discharge opening,

a valve member normally closing the flush discharge opening of the flushtank,

float means responsive to water in the flush tank,

means for supplying water to the flush tank in response to actuation ofthe current sensing means,

latch means for preventing raising the valve member,

means operable by the float means for releasing the latch means,

and a spring connecting the float means to the valve member for raisingthe valve member.

2. In a toilet structure,

a flush tank including an outlet opening at the bottom thereof,

a valve sleeve extending to the outlet opening,

a ball float adapted to seat on the end of the sleeve and close it,

a lever having a hole therein,

a rod extending slidably through the hole and connected to the ballfloat,

means on the end of the rod limiting sliding movement of the rodrelative to the lever,

a latching pin normally in a position preventing pivotal movement of thelever,

a second float,

a second lever mounting the second float pivotally,

means adjustably connecting the second lever to the latching pin formoving the latching pin to a releasing position when water in the tankreaches a predetermined level,

and resilient means connecting the first lever to the second lever toraise the first lever when the second lever moves the latching pin to areleasing position,

a valve for supplying water to the flush tank,

electromagnetic means for actuating the valve,

electrode means submerged in water in the bowl member,

and means responsive to current flow between the electrode means foractuating the electromagnetic means.

3. In a flush valve for a flush tank,

a fixed drain member mounted in the flush tank for draining the flushtank,

a closure plate member,

adapter plate means mounted on the drain member and having a valveopening and an upper valve seat portion at the end of the opening,

means mounting the closure plate member on the adapter plate means in aposition adapted to rest on the valve seat portion and close the valveopena bracket mounted on the closure plate member,

a rod mounted slidably in the bracket,

a latch member mounted at one end of the rod, spring means urging thelatch member toward a predetermined position extending beyond the plate,fixed latch means adapted to hold the latch member against upwardmovement to thereby hold the plate against movement away from the valveseat portion,

a lever mounted pivotally on the bracket and connected at one end to therod,

and a ball float member connected to the other end of the lever forpivoting the lever to pull the latch member away from the latch meanswhen the water in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

4. In a valve device for a flush tank,

a vertical drain pipe extending into the tank,

a cylindrical member adapted to fit over the upper end of the drain pipeand having an opening at the upper end thereof,

the cylindrical member having a slot therein,

means for holding the cylindrical member on the drain a partition memberin .the cylinder having a hole aligned with the drain pipe,

gasket means between the partition member and the drain pipe,

a valve plate member adapted to close the opening in the cylindricalmember,

means mounting the plate member for movement between a first positionclosing the opening in the upper end of the cylinder and a secondposition spaced position spaced downwardly from the closing position andopening the opening in the upper end of the cylinder,

resilient means normally urging the plate member toward its firstposition and operable by water pressure on the plate member to permitthe plate member to be moved to its second position,

a latch member defining a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end ofthe cylindrical member and having a latching portion movable by thelever and extending through the slot in the cylindrical member forholding the plate member in its closed position,

and a ball float member connected to the lever for pivoting the latchmeans to a position releasing the plate member when the ball floatmember is raised to a predetermined level.

5. In a flush valve for a flush tank,

a fixed drain member having an upper valve seat portion,

an adapter plate having an opening therein,

means mounting the adapter plate in a position on the valve seat portionwith the opening in communication with the interior of the drain member,

a closure plate,

means mounting the closure plate pivotally on the adapter plate,

a bracket mounted on the closure plate,

a rod mounted slidably in the bracket,

a latch member mounted on one end of the rod,

spring means urging the latch member toward a predetermined positionextending beyond the closure plate,

latch means on the adapter plate and adapted to hold the latch memberagainst upward movement to thereby hold the plate against movement awayfrom the adapter plate,

a lever mounted pivotally on the bracket and connected at one end to therod,

a tension spring connected at the other end of the lever,

and a ball float member connected to the upper end of the tension springfor pivoting the lever to pull the latch member away from the latchmeans when the water in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

6. In a valve device for a flush tank having a vertical drain pipe,

a cylindrical member having a slot in the upper end thereof and adaptedto fit over the upper end of the drain pipe,

setscrew means adapted to hold the cylindrical member on the drain pipe,

a partition member in the cylinder intermediate the ends thereof andhaving a hole aligned with the drain pipe,

gasket means between the partition member and the drain pipe,

the cylindrical member also being provided with a centrally locatedopening in the upper end thereof,

a valve pressure plate adapted to close the centrally located opening,

means mounting the plate for movement between a closing position closingthe centrally located opening in the upper end of the cylinder and anopen position spaced downwardly from the closing position,

resilient means normally urging the plate member toward its closingposition and operable by water on the plate and permitting the plate tobe moved to the open position thereof by water pressure on the plate,

a latch member defining a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end ofthe cylindrical member and having a hook latching portion movable by thelever and extending through the slot in the upper end of the cylindricalportion for holding the plate member in its closed position,

and a ball float member connected to the lever for pivoting the latchmember to a position releasing the .plate when the ball float member israised to a predetermined level.

7. In a toilet flushing device,

a toilet bowl member,

a flush tank having an outlet for discharging flushing water into thebowl member,

valve means for closing the outlet,

means for sensing use of the bowl,

water supply means for supplying flushing water to the fiush tank,

first means responsive to the means for sensing use of the bowl foractuating the water supply means to supply water to the flush tank, andsecond means responsive to the first means for sequentially holding thevalve means closed to accumulate water in the flush tank and opening thevalve means to discharge the water from the flush tank into .the bowlmember to flush the bowl member and thus stop the water supply means.

8. In a toilet flushing device,

a toilet bowl,

a flush tank having an inlet and an outlet leading to the bowl,

a first valve in the outlet and normally closed,

a source of water under pressure connected to the inlet,

a second valve in the inlet,

sensing means responsive to use of the toilet,

means responsive to actuation of the sensing means for opening thesecond valve to accumulate water in the flush tank,

and means operable after the fiush tank has accumulated a sufiicientquantity of water to flush the bowl to open the first valve and closethe second valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,154 4/1919Grifi'lths 4--53 1,327,262 1/1920 Wygodsky 4100 1,335,380 3/1920Littlefield 4--l00 1,404,155 1/1922 Littlefield 4100 1,568,994 1/1926Norbork 419 1,709,083 4/19'29 Littlefield 4100 1,952,583 3/1934 Coltman4-53 2,967,481 1/1961 Semon et al. ZOO-61.05 X

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD V. BENHAM, LEWIS J. LENNY,

Examiners.

1. IN A TOILET FLUSHING DEVICE INCLUDING A BOWL MEMBER FOR RECEIVINGURINE AND HAVING A SUPPLY OF WATER THEREIN OF A PREDETERMINEDELECTROCONDUCTIVITY, A PAIR OF SPACED ELECTRODES MOUNTED IN THE WATER OFTHE BOWL MEMBER WITH THE ELECTRODES SPACED APART, MEANS PLACING APREDETERMINED POTENTIAL ON THE ELECTRODES, CURRENT SENSING MEANSRESPONSIVE TO CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE ELECTRODES WHEN THE WATERRECEIVES URINE OF SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER ELECTROCONDUCTIVITY THAN THEWATER, A FLUSH TANK HAVING A FLUSH DISCHARGE OPENING, A VALVE MEMBERNORMALLY CLOSING THE FLUSH DISCHARGE OPENING OF THE FLUSH TANK, FLOATMEANS RESPONSIVE TO WATER IN THE FLUSH TANK, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATERTO THE FLUSH TANK IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF THE CURRENT SENSING MEANS,LATCH MEANS FOR PREVENTING RAISING THE VALVE MEMBER, MEANS OPERABLE BYTHE FLOAT MEANS FOR RELEASING THE LATCH MEANS, AND A SPRING CONNECTINGTHE FLOAT MEANS TO THE VALVE MEMBER FOR RAISING THE VALVE MEMBER.